KS3/4 Adaptations Information and guidance for teachers Contents Learning Objectives Lesson plan Plan a route Suggested activities to link with session Things to arrange prior to visit The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Your teaching session Maps We have a group of over 25 chimpanzees here at Chester Zoo

Back to top One of our Discovery sessions in action! Learning Objectives After attending this session, pupils will be able to: ▪ Define the terms adaptation and habitat ▪ Give 3 things that animals need from their habitat ▪ Give examples of physical and behavioural adaptations Lesson Plan ▪ Introduction Through questioning establish a definition of adaptation (how an animal is able to survive in its habitat). Through questioning establish what a habitat is and what animals require from their habitat. Explain that adaptations can be physical or behavioural with examples. ▪ Main lesson Live animal (cockroach)-consider habitat qualities (Madagascan rainforest) and adaptations for feeding and avoiding predators. Mystery skulls – in small groups students will be asked to work out the adaptations for survival, including feeding and predator escape. Rainforest or savannah animals can be used (if you have a preference please let us know as soon as possible). Students present their findings to the class with additional information and PowerPoint photos. If time allows a second live animal will be considered. ▪ Plenary Recap definitions. Adaptations can be physical or behavioural. Run through animals and habitats considered. KS3/4 Adaptations

Back to top Grevy’s Zebra can be seen at Chester Zoo Plan a route Animals discussed during session: Either: Jaguar, caiman, capybara, tapir (Rainforest), Or: giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah (Savannah). Animals will be discussed depending on your preference (please let us know well in advance if you have a preference). Animals to visit before or after session Rainforest Capybara - between the Fruit Bat Forest and Spectacled Bears. Make sure to look at their feet! Tapir - with the capybara. Make sure to look at their nose and for any youngsters with a stripy and spotty pattern. Jaguar - behind the Education Centre. They can be elusive. Caiman - we do not currently have caiman, but Philippine Crocodiles can be seen in the Tropical Realm. Make sure to look at the shape of their body. Savannah Zebra - past the Spectacled Bears in the paddocks. Try counting how many there are if they are standing together. Lion – Next to the Fountain Gardens. Look at the male’s mane, what is it for? We have Asiatic lions, they are critically endangered. Cheetah - view from the wooden walk-way accessed by the lions, the Fruit Bat forest or near the ruffed lemurs. Look for their facial stripes and spotty coat. Giraffe - opposite the Tropical Realm. Make sure to look at their coat patterns and look out for their long tongues and how they drink. Curriculum Links Key stage 3/4 Biology (unit 1b): What determines where a species lives? An animal is adapted to the conditions in which it lives. It also has to compete for resources. Each animal has features (adaptations) which help it to survive.

One of our young Sumatran Orang-utans born in 2004 Suggested activities to link with session Before visit (recommended prior learning) Vocabulary – Adaptation, habitat, savannah and /or rainforest, camouflage, binocular vision, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, predator, prey. During visit Focus on a country and its range of habitats, Spectacled Bears, vicuna, capybara, tapir and rhea all from the South American rainforest are conveniently located in close proximity to each other, we also have Jaguars, poison dart frogs and macaws in the Zoo. Focus on adaptations of birds to different habitats. Europe on the Edge is ideal for this with open water birds with short legs and webbed feet for movement and serrated beaks for feeding, long legged waders with probing beaks and scavenging vultures with bald heads to keep clean. Focus on animals from extreme habitats e.g. camels or onager from the Asian steppe, Sumatran Tiger from the island of Sumatra, Giant Otters from South American rainforests. Plant adaptation, visit the Grow Zone to see carnivorous plants, cacti (extreme environments), orchids (imitators). Meet a Presenter. Our presenters run a series of short talks about our animals and plants throughout the year, many of these include information related to adaptations. They are also more than happy to answer questions. Please click here for times and locations. click here After visit Design an imaginary animal/plant to survive in a specific habitat (or an imaginary habitat). Back to top

Running plan for the day Time and location of teaching session Time and location to meet for teaching session Time and location to meet for lunch Time to visit Fruit Bat Forest (all students under 16 must be accompanied through this exhibit) Time for students to visit the gift shop (the shop at the entrance is open all year round, opening times of the other 2 shops vary throughout the year). All students under 16 should be accompanied in the gift shops. Time and location to meet when leaving the Zoo Back to top Things to arrange prior to visit Please check details on confirmation letter, any queries please call / Arrange a pre-visit to the Zoo, contact us / for details. Arrange appropriate number of group leaders (please click here for guidance) and collate contact details. Please inform us of any special needs so we are aware and can be of assistance if required, for example if you have wheelchair users or there are specific allergies. Assign students to a group leader, ensure students and leaders know the running plan for the day, have staff contact details and map of the Zoo (click here).click here Ensure group leaders have a plan for the day including; student names, time and location of teaching session (e.g. a copy of the confirmation letter) and where to meet, if necessary, after the session as well as a map of the Zoo. One of our critically endangered Black Rhinos

Back to top Sheba is our oldest Asian Elephant at over 50 years of age! The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Please help us to make your entrance to the Zoo as smooth as possible. Allow plenty of time to get to and into the Zoo, it can take over 30 minutes to enter the Zoo and reach the Education Centre, particularly at busy times of year. On arrival the group leader only should approach the main gate with the confirmation letter. Pupils and other staff should remain on the coach. This provides an ideal opportunity for another member of staff to run through itinerary for the day with pupils and helpers, to hand out work sheets, information, maps, talk times etc. Once the paperwork has been completed the group leader can collect the group from the coach to be counted into the Zoo by Gate Staff. There are toilets at the main entrance both inside and outside the Zoo. Rainy day plan: There are many indoor enclosures: (please see map) Snakes, insects, birds and other reptiles are in the Tropical Realm. This is situated near to the Education Centre in the East Zoo. The Fruit Bat Forest contains free-flying bats as well as insects, blind cave fish and other mammals. This is situated just past Monkeys in the West Zoo. Monkeys, Chimpanzees and Jaguars all have good indoor viewing spaces. Other enclosures with indoor viewing include; Rhinos, Elephants, Orangutans, the Aquarium and Islands in Danger.

Back to top Your teaching session Sessions are run in 3 classrooms all located in the Education Centre next to the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit, and last around 50 minutes. On arrival at the Education Centre please wait outside the appropriate room (Cook, Columbus or Cousteau), as stated on your booking confirmation for an Education Officer to greet you. Please don’t block doorways to education classrooms as there may be classes about to leave. If you are delayed for any reason and may be late for your teaching session please contact / , we may be able to help! If you have found this information useful or think there is something that we could add to help your day run smoothly please let us know at Meeting one of our stick insects! There are plenty of picnic tables around the Zoo to use for your lunch. On rainy days there is a small indoor picnic area next to the Education Centre You can even pre-book school lunches from Chester Zoo when you book your teaching session! These healthy and palm oil free lunch boxes will be prepared for your visit. You can either collect them from the Ark Restaurant or eat them in there (tables cannot be pre-booked). Please click here for more information. There are toilets opposite the Spirit of the Jaguar house just past the Education Centre. Some Discovery Sessions may include a live animal and/or a selection of bio-artefacts. Please inform us in advance of any allergies or phobias that may be affected by this. An antibacterial foam hand-wash will be offered to students at the end of the session. In order for this to be effective, teachers are asked to ensure that all students have clean hands on arrival at the Education Centre.

Adaptations: some key species locations Jaguar Giraffe Tapir and Capybara Asiatic Lions Cheetah Grevy’s Zebra Education Centre

Rainy Day Visits Cheetah Butterfly Journey Islands in Danger Fruit Bat Forest Monkeys Elephants of the Asian Forest Chimpanzees Spirit of the Jaguar Realm of the Red Ape Tsavo Black Rhino Experience Secret World of the Okapi Tropical Realm Aquarium